Benefits

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their current estimate of how many people do not claim benefits to which they are entitled; what is the value of unclaimed benefits in total and by benefit per year; and what steps they are taking to reduce the number of people not claiming benefits to which they are entitled.

Lord Freud: The latest estimates of the numbers entitled to but not receiving income-related benefits and of the amounts of unclaimed income-related benefits are published in the report Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-Up in 2008-09. The take-up report is available online at http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=irb_2.
	For the six income-related benefits for which estimates are available there was between £6.930 billion and £12.700 billion left unclaimed in 2008-09; this compared to £38.110 billion that was claimed and represents take-up by expenditure of between about 75 per cent and 85 per cent.
	We want to make sure that everyone is getting all of the help that they are entitled to which is why the department makes information available in various locations including doctors' surgeries, welfare rights groups and Jobcentre Plus offices to ensure that people are aware of the benefits to which they may be entitled and how to claim them. Information on benefits is also available on the department's website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm.
	For pensioner benefits the Pension Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) is working collaboratively at a local level with partner organisations to engage pensioners in a way that is familiar to them. In addition it has developed a free pension credit toolkit providing information guides and templates for people who work with vulnerable pensioners to encourage them to promote pension credit.
	It also targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to encourage them to claim. For example, when a customer makes a claim to state pension or reports a change in their circumstances, a customer adviser will discuss a pension credit application with those who may be entitled.
	A modest research study is also being conducted to help build the evidence base on how the information that we routinely collect can be used more effectively to ensure pensioners get the help that is available through pension credit. This study is a first step in seeing if this type of approach might be possible in the longer term. Initial findings of the study are expected later this year.
	Finally with the introduction of universal credit from October 2013, which will provide a new single system of means-tested support for people of working age in and out of work, people will be better placed to find out what benefits they can get.

Benefits

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government which benefits do not require means-testing; and what is the purpose of each benefit.

Lord Freud: The information requested is given below.
	Disability living allowance, carer's allowance and attendance allowance
	Disability living allowance (DLA) is a cash benefit for children and adults with long-term impairments that contributes towards the extra costs associated with their disability. It is a tax-free, non-contributory benefit which is not income-related and is for recipients to meet any needs as they choose
	Attendance allowance (AA) is a cash benefit that adults with long-term disabilities can claim after reaching the age of 65 to contribute towards their extra costs associated with disability. It is paid without any test of income and does not require a national insurance record. AA is based only on an assessment of the care needs of the older people.
	Carer's allowance provides a measure of financial support for people who forgo the opportunity of full-time employment in order to provide regular and substantial care of at least 35 hours a week for a severely disabled person. The person being cared for must be receiving a suitable qualifying benefit, usually either attendance allowance or disability living allowance care component at the middle or highest rate. Carer's allowance is not means-tested but it has an earnings limit of £100 a week after deduction of allowable expenses such as income tax and national insurance contributions.
	Employment and support allowance
	Employment and support allowance is the main income-replacement benefit for people of working age who are unable to work because of an illness or disability. A contribution-based employment and support allowance, which is not means-tested, may be claimed if sufficient national insurance contributions have been paid.
	Jobseeker's allowance
	Jobseeker's allowance is the main benefit for people of working age who are out of work but available for and actively seeking employment. A contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, which is not means-tested, may be claimed if sufficient national insurance contributions have been paid.
	Bereavement benefits
	Bereavement payment is a one-off, lump-sum payment of £2,000, which may be paid to the surviving spouse or civil partner of the deceased person, based on the deceased's national insurance contributions. The payment helps meet some of the costs associated with losing a spouse or civil partner who was previously earning and so contributing to the household.
	Widowed parent's allowance may be paid to the surviving spouse or civil partner if they are receiving child benefit for bringing up a child or young person, depending on the national insurance contributions paid by the deceased person. It is intended to assist families who have lost a main household earner.
	Bereavement allowance may be paid for up to 52 weeks to the surviving spouse or civil partner of the deceased person if the surviving spouse or civil partner is aged over 45 and is not receiving child benefit for bringing up a child or young person. Eligibility depends on the national insurance contributions paid by the deceased person, and it is intended to enable the surviving spouse or civil partner to make the necessary transition after losing a spouse or civil partner who was previously earning and so contributing to the household.
	The industrial injuries scheme
	The industrial injuries scheme provides non-contributory no-fault benefits for disablement because of an accident at work, or because of one of over 70 prescribed diseases known to be a risk from certain jobs.
	The industrial injuries scheme benefits are:
	industrial injuries disablement benefit;constant attendance allowance;exceptionally severe disablement allowance;reduced earnings allowance;retirement allowance;industrial death benefit;unemployability supplement;
	and benefits payable under the:
	workmen's compensation (supplementation) scheme; and
	pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and miscellaneous benefits scheme.
	In addition a lump sum payment may be payable under the Pneumoconiosis, etc 1979 (Workers' Compensation) Act or the 2008 diffuse mesothelioma scheme.
	Benefits payable under the industrial injuries scheme are not means-tested but may be taken into account against income-related benefits.
	Statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance, statutory sick pay, statutory paternity pay, additional statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption pay
	Statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance are paid for up to 39 weeks to help working women who satisfy qualifying conditions based on employment and level of earnings, take time off work at the end of their pregnancy and in the months after childbirth.
	Statutory paternity pay helps fathers who satisfy qualifying conditions based on employment and level of earnings take one or two weeks off work after the birth of a child to care for the child.
	Additional statutory paternity pay helps fathers who satisfy qualifying conditions based on employment and level of earnings take time off work to look after the child if the mother chooses to go back to work before the expiry of her 39-week maternity pay/allowance period.
	Statutory adoption pay is paid for up to 39 weeks to help working adopters who satisfy qualifying conditions based on employment and level of earnings take time off work when a child is placed with them for adoption to help the child and adopter to adjust to their new relationship.
	Statutory sick pay provides a statutory minimum payment for a maximum of 28 weeks to employees unable to work because of sickness who meet qualifying conditions based on employment status and level of earnings.
	State pension
	The state pension provides a financial foundation and valuable source of income to over 12 million pensioners who have contributed to their national insurance record through their working lives.
	Winter fuel payments are paid to most people who have reached state pension age for women. They provide assurance to older people that they can keep warm during the colder winter months because they know they will receive significant help with their fuel bills.
	Child benefit and guardian's allowance
	Child benefit provides a contribution towards the cost of bringing up a child or qualifying young person. It is worth £20.30 a week for the first child and £13.40 for all other children in the household.
	Guardian's allowance provides additional support to those who look after a child or qualifying young person whose parents have died or, in specified circumstances, where one parent has died. It is paid at a weekly rate of £14.75.

Church of England

Lord Inglewood: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in addition to canon law, the Church of England is required to comply with any other legislation in the administration of its affairs.

Lord McNally: The Church of England is subject, as are other organisations, to the general law including both common law and statute law. It is also subject to the particular area of English law known as ecclesiastical law. In addition to canon law, this consists of common law and statute law and of subordinate legislation made under various statutory powers. The statutes in question are either Acts of Parliament or Measures passed by the General Synod and its predecessor the Church Assembly under devolved legislative powers, the exercise of which is subject to the approval of Parliament.

Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Lord Teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will require Ofgem to determine whether renewable energy projects being installed under the feed-in tariff scheme qualify as single or multiple sites before installation has taken place.

Lord Marland: Eligibility for feed-in tariffs (FITs) is defined through the Feed-in Tariffs (Specified Maximum Capacity and Functions) Order 2010; and associated modifications to the standard conditions of electricity supply licences made by the Secretary of State under Section 42(3) of the Energy Act 2008. Application of these, which include the definition of "site" and the process for accrediting installations for FITs, is the responsibility of electricity suppliers and Ofgem.
	There is currently no pre-accreditation process within the FITs scheme which means that Ofgem cannot accredit an installation, and provide confirmation of its eligibility for FITs, until the installation is fully commissioned.
	My right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced the first comprehensive review of FITs in February. This review provides an opportunity to consider all aspects of the scheme, including accreditation issues.

Energy: Tariffs

Lord Teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will require Ofgem to set a standard tariff level for the grid assessments required from district network operators before microgeneration projects are connected to the grid.

Lord Marland: Distribution network connection charges are a matter for the independent regulator, Ofgem, and the distribution network operators (DNOs). Charges for feasibility studies ahead of connections are cost-reflective. The charges vary to reflect the amount of work a DNO undertakes to assess individual project connection requirements. A standard fee would not fairly allocate the costs involved.

Terrorism Act 2000

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to placing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda in the Schedule 2 list of terrorist organisations under the provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Baroness Neville-Jones: It is not government policy to comment on whether any particular organisation is being considered for proscription. The list of proscribed organisations is kept under regular review.